Credible pipeline of projects seen as key to achieving R1-trillion infrastructure goal

President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted the importance of project preparation to unlocking the mostly private finance that will be needed to realise government’s goal of investing R1-trillion in infrastructure over the coming four years and turning South Africa into a “building site”. Speaking at an Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) roundtable in Gauteng on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said that private sector funding and high-impact capital funding would be secured only if a credible pipeline of “bankable” projects was developed.
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Acwa Power’s Bokpoort CSP plant achieves 312 hours of continuous operation

Saudi Arabian power generation company Acwa Power’s Bokpoort concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, in the Northern Cape, has become the first renewable facility on the continent to complete a full week of continuous around-the-clock operation. The operation set the new African continent benchmark by achieving 13 days, or 312 hours, of continuous operations on October 23, which is almost double the previous record it had set in March 2016.
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Eskom introduces 400 kV transmission line construction project to municipalities

State-owned power utility Eskom has introduced its project for the construction of the 282 km of 400 kV transmission line, with associated feeder and transformer bays, which will be construction between the Gromis substation, in the Northern Cape, and the Juno substation, in the Western Cape. The utility met with various districts and local municipalities from the two provinces on October 29.
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Sasol unveils first carbon-offset deal as it seeks yet more projects

Energy and chemicals group Sasol reports that it has secured more than 100 000 carbon credits in a transaction concluded under the South African Carbon Offset Administration System (COAS), set up to facilitate the listing, transfer and retirement of such credits to offset carbon tax liabilities. In a statement the JSE-listed company said the transaction had been concluded with Bethlehem Hydro, a South African independent power producer (IPP), and that it was among the first concluded under COAS, which was launched earlier this year.
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Sasol unveils first carbon-offset deal as its seeks yet more projects

Energy and chemicals group Sasol reports that it has secured more than 100 000 carbon credits in a transaction concluded under the South African Carbon Offset Administration System (COAS), set up to facilitate the listing, transfer and retirement of such credits to offset carbon tax liabilities. In a statement the JSE-listed company said the transaction had been concluded with Bethlehem Hydro, a South African independent power producer (IPP), and that it was among the first concluded under COAS, which was launched earlier this year.
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IPP Office extends bid deadline for R40bn risk-mitigation programme

South Africa’s Independent Power Producer (IPP) Office has confirmed an extension to the bid submission deadline, to December 22, for the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP), under which government aims to procure some 2 000 MW of dispatchable generation capacity for operation by mid-2022. The original bid submission deadline was November 24.
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Fresh moves under way to address debt albatross at lossmaking Eskom

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Friday that a “second round” of work is being initiated in an effort to find a solution to Eskom’s unsustainable debt burden in line with the recent social compact between government, community, labour and business to “mobilise funding to address Eskom’s financial crisis in a sustainable manner”. Speaking virtually during the release of Eskom’s delayed financial results for the year to March 31, 2020, he said the “first round” had already taken place early in 2020, and ahead of the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, during which various options had been examined.
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Globeleq appoints new COO

African independent power producer Globeleq has appointed Gionata Visconti COO, effective early in January next year.

He will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s operations and provide support for in-country governance work and asset management.

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Nersa permitted to grant above 1 MW licences without Ministerial approval

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has been granted permission to process licence applications for self-generation facilities of above 1 MW, even if they are not in compliance with the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 (IRP 2019).

This approval, which was granted by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, means that prospective applicants are no longer required to obtain Ministerial approval for deviation from the IRP 2019 before applying to Nersa for a licence.

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Nersa to hold public hearings on Eskom’s MYPD 3 RCA applications

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) will hold virtual public hearings on State-owned power utility Eskom’s third Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD3) Regulatory Clearing Account (RCA) Year 2 (2014/15), Year 3 (2015/16) and Year 4 (2016/17) applications, Eskom’s supplementary application and the implementation plan for the liquidation of the 2018/19 RCA balance. The hearings will be held on November 5 on Microsoft Teams.
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